BEN DOWDELL hit a hat-trick as Winterbourne United cruised to a 3-1 victory over Melksham Town in the Premier Division.

Winterbourne were looking to erase the memory of their early December 7-0 defeat at Melksham, and did it with some style.

Dowdell caused problems for the visitors throughout, and opened the scoring inside the first quarter of an hour.

With the all-weather surface enabling both sides to play some good football, Melksham levelled proceedings early in the second period.

Winterbourne regained the lead almost immediately through Dowdell and remained in control to give Dowdell the chance to grab his hat-trick and ensure revenge for the December drubbing.

Although Hallen have games in hand over most of the teams above them in the table it would take a near miracle for them to finish in the top three after they could only manage to share two goals and the points with hosts Buckland Athletic.

Tom Collett put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot early on, but Liam Head equalised four minutes into the second half for Buckland.Almondsbury UWE halted Westbury United’s recent march up the First Division table with a 2-0 away win, although the stormy conditions did have a part to play.

Some class play saw Almondsbury go ahead through Brett Agnew.

Westbury struggled to come to terms with either the conditions or their opponents and the home goalkeeper kept his side in the match with some great stops.

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The second started much the same as the first and the visitors soon doubled the lead with Simon McIlroy finding the net.

Westbury gradually got back into the match but failed to produce a goal and Almondsbury travelled home a happy side.

Ipsoregulated

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